Chevy Tahoe Brakes - Super Stop And Be Clean About It

Changing Our Tahoe To A Matched Set Of Brakes

Chevrolet's Tahoe is about the hottest SUV in town. There's nothing lightweight about it, though, and we were ready to get it stopped a little more quickly than the stock components would let us. Besides that, the dust from the OEM pads was UGLY and made us wonder why we had these really cool wheels when they often looked like the inside of a chimney. Raybestos recommended that we try their Superstop components with cross-drilled and slotted rotors. For the rear drums we received Superstop shoes and new drums to complement the front. This system is one that Raybestos has been supplying to many fleets, including some police departments using Tahoes for special-duty, and they're the official brakes of NASCAR.

The combination ceramic-metallic composite material used on the pads and shoes is not only extremely effective in hauling our 6,000-pound grocery-getter to a stop but is extremely clean. Although no sophisticated devices were available for scientific measurement, we estimate the vehicle stops about a third-to-half better than it did. It's much more pleasurable in stop-and-go traffic and inspires a level of confidence we didn't feel before. We've been watching for all that nasty dust and debris, but so far the only things on our front wheels are what we pick up on the road.

Why have bright chromed or polished wheels only to install brake pads that cover them with gray? Follow along as we go through the fairly simple and straightforward R&R of our brake system. The whole job took less than four hours. Cost for everything we put on, including new rotors, calipers, drums, hardware, pads, shoes, and wheel cylinders, is under $500. When changing to the Superstop system, it is recommended that all new components be used in order to maximize the effectiveness of the material and its longevity, although some installations may not require calipers. Nevertheless, make sure that the job includes new hardware kits.

Sources

Raybestos Brakes

Corona, CA 91720

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Chevy Tahoe Brakes - Super Stop And Be Clean About It

This is the complete package. Precise radius-chamfered holes and milled slots in the full-cast rotors promote heat dissipation and work with the Quiet Stop pads to reduce brake dust. Raybestos Superstop shoes have exclusive friction material formulated to complement the Quiet Stop pads.

Take all these nice pretty parts, slop grease on them, and gently install them in those pretty rotors.

Slide the rotors on the spindle, tighten, and install the cotter key. Notice that this rotor is marked with an "L" for left. As you have probably already concluded, the other one is marked "R." They are uni-directional because of the slotting and pattern of cross-drilling.

Add the silicone lube to the rear of the pads to allow the pad to "float" and to help eliminate squeaks.

We quickly got the old rotors off and left the old calipers attached just to reduce the brake fluid drainage. This is not a primer for "how to do a brake job," so we've skipped some steps, as you will notice.

We installed the new caliper assembly with the old one still hooked up, again to minimize brake fluid loss. With the new unit in place, it was a quick job to remove and reinstall the brake line.

The automatic adjuster has to be removed from the old shoes. Other than that, everything's new, including the wheel cylinders.

Ordinarily, brakes with this much material would not be replaced, but the object here was to increase the effectiveness far beyond OEM specs, so off they came. We got what we wanted, too.

Lube the caliper shafts, slide them in each end, and install the retainers (gentle tapping is recommended).

All buttoned up and ready for a brake-bleed. This job took only a few short hours, even stopping to take photos, and was reasonably priced.

All new hardware, of course. Don't cut corners on the springs and little pieces.

The brake shoe assembly goes back on rather easily, but the springs are sometimes fun. It can be handy to have another set of hands. This Tahoe is almost ready for soccer games or a night out with Kip and Buffy, but they better be strapped in because when it's time to stop, the Superstop system will apply some serious force.

This 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo has its factory brake system upgraded with a Raybestos Brutestop brake kit that includes brake lines, rotors, and calipers to greatly decrease the stopping distance - Super Chevy Magazine » Read More